frighten/scare the life out of
idiom
informal
: to frighten (someone) very badly
You (nearly) scared the life out of me when you startled me like that!
Cite this Entry
“Frighten/scare the life out of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frighten%2Fscare%20the%20life%20out%20of. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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